Frequently Asked Storm Shelter Questions (FAQs)

We strive to get as much information about storm shelters and tornado safe rooms to you as we can to help you make a more educated and informed decision. Therefore, we will be adding several videos in this Frequently Asked Storm Shelter Questions page over the coming weeks and months to help ensure you can get your questions answered in your own time, when you’re doing your research, without having to go anywhere or talk to anyone – or in the middle of the night if you like!

If there’s other storm shelter information not found here or on any other page of the website that you feel is important and needs to be addressed, please CONTACT US by clicking on the CONTACT US link at the top of any page and let us know so we can answer the question on this page for the benefit of all either in text or if possible, via video.

Video 1: All About Storm Shelter Site Visits:

Determining the best location for your future fiberglass underground storm shelter, what to look out for, things to think about, and a simulation of what we’d do when coming out to your home for a site visit. This is the quickest way to get your your questions about your yard answered as most are covered in this video (be sure to pay attention to the audio!):

Want to see an All Weather Tornado Safe Room up close and personal? With the click of your mouse on the PLAY arrow below, you can take a personalized tour through one of our 6×8 Standard All Weather Safe Rooms and see what makes the All Weather Safe Room stand out among its competitors and also learn some of the key aspects of a quality safe room as if you were walking through the safe tornado safe room in person. Just click play below:

Want to know which Lifesaver storm shelter is right for you? This video goes through the differences between each of the different Lifesaver fiberglass underground storm shelter models and shows the features of the Lifesaver storm shelter models so you can get a closer view and better understanding of what makes this storm shelter so popular and in such high demand (like the Limited LIFETIME Warranty). This video shows you the outside of the shelters, the doors, how they open, how they latch, the vents, the interior dimensions and other good to know information about what makes the Lifesaver Storm Shelter such a great and popular shelter:

More videos coming soon!

(Several more videos already shot, just getting edited, formatted and uploaded. Stay tuned by watching our facebook page for the latest information on new content like videos, pictures, etc: http://www.facebook.com/HuntsvilleTornadoShelters – be sure to “like” us as well!)

Other Frequently Asked Storm Shelter / Tornado Safe Room Questions:

Q: Will the heavy concrete truck ruin my lawn or crack my driveway?

A: For a safer, quicker, easier, simpler and all around better install, we now pour our concrete anchors ahead of time to create heavy large precast long blocks of concrete that we bring to the install location along with the shelter. These heavy precast concrete blocks achieve the same objective as the wet cement which is weight. This type of install requires a slightly wider but shallower hole but allows us to anchor the shelter tightly in place with stainless steel cable cinched down with our rubber-track mini-excavator to ensure it doesn’t float up or move once installed and anchored in place. Overall it’s a cleaner, faster, simpler install which doesn’t tear up your yard.

Q: How large is the hole that has to be dug for the underground storm shelter installs?

A: The size of the hole varies with the size of shelter installed. Most holes will be dug approximately 10 feet wide and as long as 10 to 13 feet with a depth ranging from 65 inches to as deep as 8 feet. However, once the shelter is installed all that you will see is the 3’x5′ or 3’x6′ shelter lid (and vents for the Refuge).

A: All of our underground storm shelters and above-ground safe rooms have been tested by the Texas Tech University Wind Science Center to withstand an EF-5 tornado. They have been specifically designed and engineered to protect against tornadoes, the designs have been approved and stamped by the state and meet or exceed FEMA guidelines. They are all strong, safe, quality-made structures and each will protect you from severe weather and flying debris.

When it comes to which underground shelter or safe room is the right one for you, it really comes down to personal preference: do you prefer to be in your garage out of the elements (if you have the space for a tornado safe room) or do you prefer to be underground? Everyone has their own beliefs and experiences and preferences, only you know what you FEEL is the right choice for you. Some additional considerations, a safe room is easier to get into for those less mobile as it’s above ground (no steps). A safe room can also double as a safe or panic room. But then some people FEEL like there’s no safer place than to be underground… (again, even though BOTH types will protect you equally as well)

Q: Will I get cell phone reception when inside one of your shelters or safe rooms?

A: To the best of our knowledge, their is no noticeable loss of signal when inside a Lifesaver storm shelter, Refuge storm shelter or All Weather Safe Room. We suggest you bring your cell phone with you when seeking shelter from the storm in case of emergency (assuming the cell towers are still working).

Q: What’s the best way to view one of the storm shelters or safe rooms?

A: Unless it’s during storm season when we’re typically swamped with calls and have no inventory to show, we can schedule a viewing with you (depending on availability). During storm season however, most if not all storm shelters that we receive have already been ordered by customers waiting for their install. In either case, you should definitely watch the videos above to learn about what you need to know about your selected shelter location (or how to select an install location) and to see the different sizes and types of shelters and their benefits and features.

Q: I’m ready to place an order for a storm shelter or tornado safe room; what’s the next step?

A: The fastest, easiest way to get your order placed is to click on the PLACE ORDER link at the top of the page. All the pricing and shelter / safe room information and options are on that page and can be chosen to meet your needs (simply follow the instructions). Once we receive your order request, we’ll email you a storm shelter or safe room contract. Once we get that back from you, signed and dated along with a 1/3 deposit to order your shelter, we’ll place your order and get you in the system. We can also take your order manually over the phone and send you a contract after the conversation but that may take longer to get the order placed. (The order page above has additional information about the ordering process – click here to learn more)

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6 thoughts on “Frequently Asked Storm Shelter Questions (FAQs)”

what if something, or can something get around the holes and stop the air supply to this shelter? I live lose to lufkin texas, would you install this around my area? i think my biggest concern would be… getting trapped inside. But besides this, i think this was a great idea. Its a pretty cool thing. Thanks

Hi Susie, if you are overly concerned with being trapped by debris from the storm, you may prefer to be above ground in a tornado safe room where you have a 6 foot vertical door that opens inward (so you can climb out on 5 feet of debris piled in front of the door, if necessary). Check out our All Weather Safe Rooms and let me know what you think. (The FAQs page also has some additional videos as well)

Unfortunately at this time, we are not aware of any grants or funding for storm shelters. There was a program that the Alabama EMA ran through FEMA after the April 11, 2011 storms but that was limited to 100 people or so per county and closed within a few months. We do have financing options however. Just fill out the contact request and let us know which unit you’re looking to order and we’ll help line you up with financing. Thanks for stopping by!